Upper Hutt Becomes a City in 1966

Upper Hutt – My Childhood Town

National Family History Month is will be over soon. This is the last post in the Blogging Challenge put together by Alex at Family Tree Frog Blog. Week four is about places. “What does “country” or place mean to your family?  What makes your place unique or special? What are the features or landmarks  that stand out in your family history?”

I have had to think about what to post for this weeks challenge. Not really having a special place did not help. I have lived in many homes around New Zealand and Australia. The town I spent my childhood was Upper Hutt, north of Wellington in New Zealand. This place does have many memories so qualifies for the challenge.

On 28th May 1966 Upper Hutt celebrated becoming a city. His Excellency the Governor General Sir Bernard Fergusson visited the newly created city. There was a big parade with lots of floats. I even got to ride on the Girls’ Brigade float. Yes that’s me sitting in the middle above the educational sign.

Source: Upper Hutt City Library Heritage Collection on Recollect.

It is hard to see me yet I recognised myself as soon as I found the image on the Upper Hutt City Library Heritage Collection on Recollect.

Even the closer shot was not that much better. I have included it below.

Other Special Places

Until I started researching my family history in earnest I never really had an attachment to any particular place. I have adopted a number of places. These include Bermondsey, where my Nana was born in 1896. Leicester where her mother, my great grand mother was born in 1865. Cornwall where my great grandfather, Francis KITTO, was born is another one.

I have been fortunate to bring these places to life by family history research and visiting them.

Here is a closer look at the people on float:

Source: Upper Hutt City Library Heritage Collection on Recollect.

Source:
Upper Hutt City Library Heritage Collection. http://uhcl.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/8880

Where to Find Out More

For Family History Month 2016 on social media use the hashtag #NFHM or #NFHM2016.
To find my blog posts check out the National Family History Month tag, NFHM.
Find out about the challenge and other bloggers taking part in this  weeks challenge at Family Tree Frog Blog.
Check out other dates in my family tree for events in my ancestors lives.

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